I never really paid much attention to this but it seems to be a common topic among 1911 shooters. One opinion is that .45 acp is better off with non ramped barrels while the higher pressure rounds like .40 S&W, .357 sig and 10mm should be used with ramped barrels. Ive read that there are sometimes reliability issues with .45 acp through ramped barrels, any truth to this?
If the round in question has to jump from the magazine to the chamber more than 50% of the cartridges diameter, then yes I would prefer a ramp. However if the jump from magazine to chamber is less than 50% of the diameter of the cartridge than no ramp needed.
A major drawback to using a ramped barrel is the machining required to the frame.
Machining is always chancy, many a frame has been ruined in the attempt.
Old thread, but I want to ask this related question. Any feedback (good or bad) on ramped .45 barrels? I know that’s not the design that Lord Browning came up with, but I’m looking at this frame that has the feature combo that I haven’t found in steel (fullsized bobtail with rail) and I think a ramped barrel would be better for longevity using an aluminum frame. They sell 2 versions, .45 and 9mm (.45 frame is ramped, 9mm frame is C/P cut).
Is Kimber using ramped barrels in their LW models?